If you already list auctions on eBay, you can easily transfer a selection or all these auctions to free2auction using the eBay loader. You can also configure your free2auction account to automatically transfer eBay auctions at set intervals.

The easiest way to configure transfers is by using free2auction's eBay Transfer Wizard here


Configuring your account to manually transfer eBay auctions
The first step is to go to your options page and enter your eBay user id in the given field, for manual transfers this is the only field you are required to complete. You have the option when transferring open eBay auctions to not include auctions that have bids, for closed auctions you may choose not to include auctions that successfully sold and set how many days of closed auctions to transfer. After you have submitted your eBay user id there will be links on your options page, and at the top of your sell page, to manually transfer either open or closed eBay auctions. Selecting one of these options will take you to the eBay loader which first attempts to detect the requested eBay auctions, this may take some time depending on the number of auctions you have listed at eBay. After the eBay loader page is finished you can select which eBay auctions you wish to transfer and also adjust the default sell data that affects transferred auctions.
After making your selection you must choose to either review the transfers in the free2auction bulk loader, or submit the transfers directly to free2auction. After you choose one of these options the transfer of the selected auctions takes place and this can take a long time, it is for this reason that a single transfer is restricted to 35 auctions.
If you choose to review the listings in the bulk loader, you can remove auctions, review any fees, and update each auction individually before you process and submit to free2auction. If there are any detected errors with the submitted auctions you will be taken to the bulk loader and given an opportunity to correct these.
You can only run one eBay loader at one time, opening additional eBay loader windows will have unexpected results.


Configuring your account to automatically schedule eBay transfers
Automatically scheduling transfers is a very easy way for you to synchronize your free2auction and eBay listings. To begin automatic transfers, on your options page submit your eBay user id and choose how often you wish to have the eBay auctions transferred. You may also choose in how many days you would like the next transfer to occur, whether you want to transfer open or closed eBay auctions, if open eBay storeitems and fixed priced items should be transferred, and if a log is emailed to you at the end of each automatic transfer that includes which auctions were transferred and any errors. The transfer settings for open and closed eBay auctions, whether to include auctions with bids or that were sold and how many days of closed auctions to transfer, apply to manual and automatic transfers.
Automatic transfers will attempt to process all possible eBay auctions at the scheduled time, if you wish to turn off automatic transfers, simply set the interval setting (how often auctions are transferred) to off. When automatic transfers are turned on a red alert shows in the scheduled eBay transfer settings area of your options page.


The importance of default sell data for eBay transfers
Not all data is available to transfer across from eBay, the data fields that are transferred per auction from eBay are:
- Title
- Category
- Description
- Quantity
- Start price
- Buy it now price
- Sold from location (not the country or region code)
- Picture url to the main eBay picture, including thumbnail for this picture
- Payment details (but not the payment methods)
- Shipping costs including insurance
- Sales tax

The remaining information comes from your default sell data which you can edit on from your options page using the special link for eBay transfer default data. You do not have to turn on use default sell data to use these settings for eBay transfers as they are required, and if you do not enter any data the free2auction default settings will be used, which are probably not the settings you need. The eBay loader offers one additional default sell field allowing you to add a generic amendment to every auction transferred from eBay to free2auction.


Discount feature
Listing an item on eBay costs you a listing fee in addition to the end price fee for successful sales, when transferring your eBay auctions to free2auction where listing an item is free you may pass savings on to your customers. Enter a single equation to discount all auctions by a set amount, or step the discount according to the starting price of each auction. The discount string uses the powerful free2auction equation string format. equation string format
For example if you want to pass on the entire eBay listing fee as a discount to free2auction buyers you may enter the following range:
0.99:val-0.30,9.99:val-0.35,24.99:val-0.60,49.99:val-1.20,199.99:val-2.40,499.99:val-3.60,9999:val-4.80
(assuming eBay's listing fees are 30c for starting price below $1, 35c for auctions up to $10, 60c for auctions up to $25, 1.20c for auctions up to $50, $2.40 for auctions up to $200, $3.60 for up to $500, and $4.80 for auctions over $500. Note the last 9999 is used to account for any starting price greater than $500).


Free sell features for eBay transfers
At free2auction we believe if you are already paying eBay fees you need a break, if you pass on to free2auction buyers some of the savings you make by listing at free2auction, we will pass on to you free sell features.

Any transferred listing that offers a discount of 1% or more receives a unique subtitle in browse and search results below the items title. This subtitle will state the discounted value or percent depending on the level of discount given.

If you pass on eBay's listing fees as a discount to free2auction members your auctions will receive free bold. To take advantage of this offer enter the following eBay discount string:
0.99:val-0.30,9.99:val-0.35,24.99:val-0.60,49.99:val-1.20,199.99:val-2.40,499.99:val-3.60,9999:val-4.80
You can check that your transfers are receiving this special by processing transfers through the eBay loader to review in the bulk loader, here you will see -bold*free*- in the extras row.

These specials apply to manual and scheduled eBay transfers.


Errors and notes
The eBay loader attempts to transfer the auctions as accurately as possible, but because the data comes from an external source we cannot guarantee the listings will be transferred correctly. It is suggested that you verify the data transferred until you become comfortable with the system and report any errors to webmaster@free2auction.com.
Known issues to take note of are:
- Reserve prices can not be detected, and these will produce an error to avoid incorrect pricing.
- The payment details field at free2auction contains less characters than eBay's payment instructions field. If it is detected that the payment details is too large it is moved to the end of the description area. Sales tax information is also moved to the description area
- Second category is not transferred, this is to ensure that no fees will be mistakenly charged to your account.

The data that is transferred from eBay does not include any settings that could charge selling fees to the listing, so if you do not add any special features into your free2auction default sell data you can be confident that transferring auctions will not cost you any fees (unless the item sells on free2auction).